Folding scooter with foot board connector

ABSTRACT

A foldable two wheeled scooter includes a steering post with a front wheel at a lower end and handlebars at an upper end. A support tube connects with a folding mechanism enclosed substantially beneath a top plate of a foot board of the scooter. The location of the mechanism prevents a user from being harmed when moving the scooter from an upright position to a folded down position.

This application is a continuation in part of Ser. No. 11/249,877 filedOct. 13, 2005 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,156,405.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to two wheeled scooters which collapse orfold from an upright position to a folded down position for carrying orstorage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Two wheeled scooters have long been known as a recreational device. Arelatively long running board is supported above a running surface bytwo wheels attached at ends of the board. The two wheels are aligned sothat the board can be rolled forward. To provide necessary stability ofthe overall structure when rolling forward, a steering post must befixed at a front end and rise to the level of a rider's hands. Ahandlebar is fixed to a top end of the steering post so a user can graspthe ends of said handlebar to stabilize and guide the scooter in aforward direction. A front wheel is typically connected with thesteering post by a steering mechanism so that a direction of the frontwheel changes upon a rider's moving the handlebars about an axis formedby the steering post.

The structure of scooter described above necessarily results in anL-shaped device, where the running board and wheels form one part of the“L” and the steering post and handlebars form the other part of the “L”.Since scooters typically are used only occasionally, it has long beenknown that storage of said scooters present a unique problem as anL-shaped device. It has also been long known to provide mechanisms tothat the L-shaped structure could be in some manner disassembled orfolded to reduce the storage difficulties of said scooters.

While it would appear most desirable that an L-shaped device such as thetwo wheeled scooter should be provided with folding means located at thevertex of its L-shape, that vertex location is the place mostchallenging to incorporate such folding means. The vertex of the L-shapeof a two wheeled scooter is the part of its structure which must bedesigned most sturdily so that it does not fail in use. If the steeringpost of a two wheeled scooter bends or breaks, a rider moving even atmoderate speeds can be seriously hurt. Folding means incorporated at thevertex location have in the past introduced serious flaws in thescooter's structure, many of which could result in structural failureduring use.

In addition to structural failure, prior art folding means for twowheeled scooters have incorporated an inherently dangerous feature. Theact of folding the L-shape of the device clearly involves moving arelatively heavy steering post with unwieldy handlebars down from anupright position toward a top surface of the running board. The act ofreleasing the steering post from the upright position in prior artfolding means often brings a user's hands near to the vertex location.In any case, a user's hands or feet may inadvertently be found in thepath of the collapsing steering post and/or handlebars when the scooteris being folded down. In such a case, many prior art folding means donot adequately protect the user from injury during the collapsing orfolding operation. A user's finger or toes in many prior art devices betrapped and/or crushed in the folding operation.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,701 discloses a folding means for said scooters. Itis clear the folding means permit a user to inadvertently place one ormore fingers inside opposing armatures or flanges that scissor togetherin the folding operation.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,387 discloses another folding means for saidscooters. The mechanism shown includes a structure wherein the steeringpost folds down to the level of the running board for carrying orstorage. The folding means is shown as an open framework of thedangerous scissoring flanges and armatures described above. Noprotective measures are shown or described that would protect a userfrom inadvertent injury.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,501 discloses yet another folding means for saidscooters. The mechanism shown includes a structure wherein the steeringpost folds down to the level of the running board for carrying orstorage. The folding means is shown as an open framework of thedangerous scissoring flanges and armatures described above. Noprotective measures are shown or described that would protect a userfrom inadvertent injury.

There is a need for a folding means for a two wheeled scooter withexcellent structural integrity while providing easy release for thesteering post from an upright position and protecting the user from harmduring the folding operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foot board structure embodiment of the present invention is afolding scooter having folding means that incorporate a lever-rotatablepin for releaseably securing a steering post in an upright position.Said pin is and an associated latch are incorporated into a forward partof a foot board of the scooter. Location of the lever, pin, and latchstructure essentially within the foot board provides a user withprotection from said structure.

The present invention is adapted to withstand the wear and tear typicalof two wheeled scooters. Users often weigh much more than what would betypical of a child's weight, i.e., adults or very overweight teens willuse a two wheeled scooter. User's often operate their scooters at highspeeds down steep inclines or over very rough terrain. Under theseextreme circumstances, the folding means must remain secure and alsoeasily releaseable from an upright position for many years of hard use.

The present invention comprises a running or foot board with a rearwheel supported from a rear wheel axle supported from a pair of rearwheel flanges extending rearward from a rear end of the running board.At a front end of the running board, a protective housing comprises anupside down and U-shaped base piece with a bottom plate and side flangeswhich is secured to a top and front surface of the running board at thebottom plate. Upward facing side flanges of the base piece are enclosedby a slotted roof piece.

Secured to an upward facing surface of the bottom plate and locatedbetween the flanges of the base piece is a second upside down U-shapedpiece, a lower latch piece that comprises another bottom plate and sideflanges directed upward. The side flanges of the lower latch piece havetwo sets of aligned notches on upper edges adapted to removeably receivea horizontal latch pin. The latch pin is urged into a set of alignednotches by means of springs connecting a mid section of the latch pinwith a base pine fixed in the lower latch piece. A horizontal base pinis secured in aligned holes in the side flanges of the base piece andthe lower latch piece. When the lower latch piece is secured to the basepiece, two narrow upper latch piece spaces are formed between innersurfaces of the side flanges of the base piece and outer surfaces of theside flanges of the lower latch piece.

Secured at a lower end by the base pin within the upper latch piecespaces a third U-shaped piece, an upper latch piece comprises anotherbottom plate and side flanges. The concave side of the upper latch pieceis directed rearward so that a top surface of the bottom plate alwaysfaces a rider when the steering post is in an upright position. Engagingends of the side flanges of the upper latch piece fit into the twonarrow upper latch piece spaces so that the base pin can secure togetherthe base piece, the lower latch piece and the upper latch piece. Theupper latch piece is rotatable about the base pin from the engagingends.

The upper latch piece connects at a post support end with a lowerportion of a steering post. The steering post extends downward from theupper latch piece connection to support the axle of a front wheel andextends upward from the upper latch piece connection to supporthandlebars for a user.

A middle part of the upper latch piece comprises two aligned latch pinslots opposite one another on the side flanges. These latch pin slotsare further aligned with the aligned notches on the side flanges of thelower latch piece when the scooter steering post is in the uprightposition or in the folded down position. A latch pin is at all timesfixed so that its ends are always adjacent to inside surfaces of theside flanges of the base piece and are guided by the latch pin slots.The latch pin is always urged toward the base pin by a pair of strongsprings, so that said latch pin is fixed at a lowest position in forwardaligned notches on the side flanges of the lower latch piece in theupright position and is further fixed in rear aligned notches in theside flanges of the lower latch piece in the folded down position.

A lifter end of the upper latch piece, distal to the engaging end,comprises a polygonal rotating pin that is rotatably fixed across theconcavity of the side flanges and extends through one side flange tosupport a lever accessible to a user. A dual armature extends from therotating pin which supports an upper cable end. The upper cable end isconnected to, in an upright position, a downward extending cable. Alower cable end of the cable is fixed in a mid section of the lifterpin. When a user depresses the lever from an upward to a downwardposition and the steering post is in the upright position, the dualarmature moves the upper cable end upward, thereby lifting the latch pinfrom the front aligned notches. The latch pin is restrained in itsmovement so that it may travel only along the path defined by the latchpin slots. However, latch pin slots are dimensioned so that when thelatch pin is lifted from the front aligned notches, the upper latchpiece may rotate rearward about the base pin so that the steering postis moved into a folded down position. When the steering post reaches thefolded down position, a user may reverse their previous action on thelever to release the latch pin into a fixed position in the rear alignednotches on the lower latch piece.

The side flanges of the base piece and the slotted roof piece arecritical to the invention. The side flanges of the base piece extend upfrom the top surface of the running board so that they at all timesenclose outside facing openings of the latch pin slots and prevent auser from putting their fingers in said latch pin slots during thefolding operations, either up or down. Enclosing said openings alsoprevents the latch pin from moving from its position with its endsengaged by the latch pin slots. The slotted roof piece covers the basepin, springs, and latch pin structures while having a single front torear slot adapted to permit passage of the cable from the front to rear,and vice versa, in the folding operations. A further upper roof pieceencloses the uncovered concavity of the U-shaped upper latch piece,thereby enclosing the cable, upper cable ends, armature and rotatingpin. The combination of the base piece, the slotted roof piece, theupper latch piece, and the upper roof piece comprise an protectiveenclosure or housing for the folding means of the invention. A usercannot, even with diligent intent, insert their fingers or other bodyparts into the potentially harmful structure of the folding means.

The rotating pin comprises a polygonal structure. Flattened sides extendthe length of the rotating pin so that when a user moves the lever froman upward to a downward position, the springs pulling down on the latchpin will in turn pull on the cable, armature and rotating pin to press aflattened side against flattened opening edges of the rotating pinopenings in the side flanges of the upper latch piece. The matingflattened surfaces of the rotating pin and the rotating pin openingscause the latch pin to remain in a lifted position until a user movesthe lever in the reverse direction. At that time, the latch pin isreleased from the lifted position and is urged into the front or rearnotches or against top edges of the side flanges of the lower latchpiece between said notches.

The steering post is topped with handlebars that extend laterally for auser to grasp. The handlebars are foldable so that they lie adjacent andparallel with the steering post in a storage position.

The invention scooter is capable of full and vigorous operation as if itwere not capable of being reduced in size. However, in a folded downposition, the steering post lies adjacent to the running board and, in astorage position, handlebars fold so that they lie adjacent and parallelwith the steering post. The invention scooter is capable of being storedin a relatively small space and being carried easily.

One object of the invention is to provide a protection so a scooter usercan safely fold their scooter down without fear of injury. The inventionenclosure or housing prevents access to the inside of said housing byobjects greater that about 5 millimeters so that user can not easily toput their finger into the folding means.

A further object of the invention is to provide an exceptionally strongstructure with folding means. The steering post is connected to therunning board via the upper latching piece secured directly to the basepiece by the base pin. This structure provides exceptional resistance toramming force upon the front wheel of the scooter with riders of up toand over 80 kilograms moving at a high rate of speed.

The foot board structure embodiment of the present invention is similarin function and structure to the above invention disclosure, but thestructure for the lever, pin and latch are moved from enclosure by wallsof the steering column above the top surface of the foot board to alocation below the top level of the foot board.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 through 5 are respectively left side, right side, front, rearand top views of the invention scooter in the upright position.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are respectively left side and top views of the inventionscooter in the folded down position.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the folding means.

FIG. 9 is an exploded and perspective view of the base piece and thelower roof piece.

FIG. 10 is an exploded and perspective view of the lower latch piece,base pin (and securing screw), springs, latch pin and long armature andthe upper roof piece.

FIG. 11 is an exploded and perspective view of the upper latch piece andthe upper roof piece.

FIG. 12 is an exploded and perspective view of the rotating pin, lockingwasher, short armatures, spacer, armature connecting pin and latchlever.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the device of FIG. 8 without a base piece androof pieces.

FIG. 14 is a partially broken away and rear view of the device of FIG.13 with the base piece.

FIG. 15 is the device of FIG. 13 with the latch lever depressed and thelatch pin lifted from its securing notches.

FIG. 16 is the device of FIG. 15 moved from an upright position to afolded down position.

FIG. 17 is a top view of the running board.

FIG. 18 is a perspective and exploded view of the foot board structureembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a perspective and assembled view of foot board structureembodiment of the present invention without showing the foot board.

FIG. 20 is a top view of the foot board of FIG. 18.

FIG. 21 is a bottom view of the foot board of FIG. 18 incorporating aU-shaped mechanism support box, also shown in FIG. 18.

FIGS. 22, 23 and 24 are respectively top, side and bottom views of theU-shaped mechanism support box, also shown in FIG. 18.

FIG. 25 is a side, cutaway view of the foot board of FIG. 18, with alongitudinal cutaway made through the distal slot in the foot board ofFIG. 18.

FIGS. 26, 27, 28 and 29 are side views of the foot board of FIG. 25showing a side, cutaway view of the steering column and lever, pin andlatch structure of FIG. 18.

FIG. 26 is the invention mechanism with the latch securing the steeringcolumn in the upright position.

FIG. 27 is the invention mechanism with the latch lifted from a positionsecuring the steering column in the upright position.

FIG. 28 is the invention mechanism with the latch lifted from a positionsecuring the steering column in the upright position, whereafter thesteering column is folded to a folded down position.

FIG. 29 is the invention mechanism with the latch securing the steeringcolumn in the folded down position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is now discussed with reference to the figures.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the invention scooter 100 respectively from the leftand right sides comprising handlebars 101 oriented normal to a normalrunning direction of the scooter. Handlebars 101 are secured to a topend of a telescopic steering post 102. Post 102 comprises a top tube 103which is capable of being received into tube 105 upon release of band104 to thereby reduce the length of steering column 102. Tube 105extends through tube 107 to fix securely to a top part of axle support109. A nut and band means 106 hold tube 105 in place relative to tube107. Axle support 109 comprises a U-shaped piece with two opposing holesat lower ends through which pass and between which are rotatably fixedan axle of front wheel 108. Thus, rotating handlebars 101 cause frontwheel 108 to respond in a like manner.

Running board 110 extends from a front to a rear part of scooter 100. Ata rear part of board 110 extends fender 113 over wheel 112. Rear wheel112 comprises an axle rotatably fixed in ends of board 110. Front wheel108 and rear wheel 112 cooperate so that scooter 100 can roll on ahorizontal surface. FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 respectively show front, rear andtop views of scooter 100 in an upright position, as also shown in FIGS.1 and 2.

Connecting board 110 to lower tube 105 are the folding means of theinvention comprising piece 114 fixed to the running board 110 and piece115 fixed to tube 107. Folding means comprise a protective housingaround potentially dangerous parts when scooter 100 is moved from anupright to a folded down position.

Consider that scooter 100 is capable of being folded down so thatsteering post 102 is near to the top surface of running board 110. FIGS.6 and 7 respectively show side and top views of scooter 100 in a foldeddown position so that it is easily stored or carried. Upper tube 103 isshown contained in part within tube 105 and handlebars 101 may bedismantled into handlebar sections 117 and secured to holder 118,thereby further reducing an overall storage outline of scooter 100.

FIG. 8 shows a rear and upper perspective view of the folding means ofthe invention. An upper part of the folding means is fixed to a rear,outside surface of tube 107 and is rotatably connected with a lower partof the folding means fixed to a front, top surface of the running board.The upper part is rotatable along path 200. A protective housingencloses the lower part comprising a base piece 114 that is covered by aslotted roof piece 124. A protective housing also encloses the upperpart comprising a upper latch piece 115 that is covered by an upper roofpiece 125.

Three slots are shown formed by the connection of roof piece 124 to basepiece 114. A first slot 127 provides for free front to rear travel of along armature enclosed within the protective housing, while side slots126 are defined by lateral openings in roof piece 124 and a top edge ofside walls 123. Slots 126 provide for free front to rear travel of sidewall extensions 129 of upper latch piece 115, which extensions 129extend down to a base pin 128 securing the upper part of the foldingmeans to the lower part. It can be readily appreciated that movement ofthe folding means along path eliminates the possibility that a usercould trap their finger or hand in the folding mechanisms of scooter 100in moving along path 200. The convex and planar outer upper surface ofroof piece 124 are swept by a lower edge of upper roof piece 125 whenthe folding means are moving along path 200, thereby preventing a user'sappendages from captured between the scissoring mechanisms within theprotective housings.

A latch lever 121 extends from a lateral side of a side wall of upperlatch piece 115 from a rotating pin and is held apart from that sidewall by spacer ring 122.

Various portions of the folding means are now shown and described withreference to perspective drawings in FIGS. 9 through 12.

FIG. 9 shows roof piece 124 separated from an upside down and U-shapedbase piece 135 with a bottom plate 140 and side flanges 136 which issecured to a top and front surface of the running board at the bottomplate 140 via bolt holes 139. Upward facing side flanges 136 of the basepiece 135 have edges 137 which in part define slots 126 of FIG. 8 whenroof piece 124 is secured to base piece 135. Base piece 135 furthercomprises two aligned holes 138 for access to a base pin. Roof piece 124defines a slot 127 with strips 130 and 131 that extend arcuately forwardfrom connector plate 132. Roof piece 124 comprises holes 133 and 134 forits connection to the base piece 135.

Secured to an upward facing surface of the bottom plate 140 via holesaligned with holes 139 of base piece 135 and located between the sideflanges 136 of the base piece 135 is a second upside down U-shaped pieceand associated mechanism in FIG. 10.

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the second upside down U-shapedpiece, a lower latch piece 141, base pin 149 (and securing screw 153),springs 154, latch pin 157, and long armature 161. Lower latch piece 141comprises another bottom plate 142 and side flanges 143 directed upward.The side flanges 143 of the lower latch piece 141 have two sets ofaligned notches (front notches 147 and rear notches 145) separated byupper edges 145. Notches 145 and 147 are adapted to removeably receive ahorizontal latch pin 157. The latch pin 157 is urged into one of thesets of aligned notches 145 or 147 by means of springs 154 connecting amid section of the latch pin 157 with the base pin 149 secured in thelower latch piece 141. A horizontal base pin 157 is secured in alignedholes 144 in the side flanges 143. When the lower latch piece 141 issecured to the base piece 135 (FIG. 9), two narrow upper latch piecespaces are formed between inner surfaces of the side flanges 136 of thebase piece 135 (FIG. 9) and outer surfaces of the side flanges 143 ofthe lower latch piece 141.

FIG. 10 further shows base pin 149 comprises a head 151 a shaft 152where ends of springs 154 attach, and a threaded bore 150 to receivesecuring screw 153. Springs 154 each comprise looped ends to connectbase pin 149 and grooves 159 of latch pin 157. Latch pin 157 compriseslatching ends 160 that are adapted to engage notches 145 and 147 oflower latch piece 141 and which are guided by latch pin slots describedbelow for an upper latch piece. Long armature 161 comprises holes 162and 163, where hole 163 is adapted to receive latch pin 157 along axis156 and be secured to latch pin 157 between grooves 159.

Secured at a lower end by the base pin 149 and rotatably movable withinthe upper latch piece spaces is a third U-shaped piece. Referring now toFIG. 11, an upper latch piece 165 comprises another bottom plate 170 andside flanges 166. The concave side of the upper latch piece 165 isdirected rearward so that a top surface of the bottom plate 170 alwaysfaces a rider when the steering post is in an upright position. Lowerengaging ends of the side flanges 166 of the upper latch piece 165 fitinto the two narrow upper latch piece spaces so that the base pin 149(FIG. 10) can secure together the lower latch piece 141 (FIG. 10) andthe upper latch piece 165 (FIG. 11). The upper latch piece 165 isrotatable about its holes 167 wherein is fixed the base pin at theengaging ends of the upper latch piece 165.

The upper latch piece 165 connects at a post support end via edges 188with the lower tube 107 (FIG. 8) of the steering post. Referring againto FIG. 11, side flanges 166 comprise a middle part with two alignedlatch pin slots 168 opposite one another on the side flanges 166. Sideflanges 166 also comprise two aligned holes 169 for receiving a rotatingpin described below. FIG. 11 shows an upper roof piece 172 which isadapted to connect with holes 171 in the bottom plate 170 via threadedextensions 174 so that upper roof piece entirely covers an upper part ofthe opening formed between top edges of side flanges 166. Arcuate cutout173 is adapted to mating fit against a surface of tube 107 (FIG. 8). Alower edge of upper roof piece 172 is adapted to sweep a top surface ofroof piece 124 (FIG. 9) when the folding means are assembled.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a rotating pin 182, its locking washers187, a latch lever 116, a spacer 122, dual short armatures 179, and anarmature connecting pin 178. Rotating pin 182 comprises two flattenedsides 183 adapted to lockingly engage with longitudinal slots 180 ofshort armatures 179 and a similarly formed locking bore 177 of latchlever 116 so that rotation of the rotating pin 182 by a user depressinglatch lever 116 necessarily causes a corresponding rotation in shortarmatures 179. Rotating pin 182 further comprises slots 184 adapted toreceive locking washers 187. Short armatures 179 are adapted to belocated at about the center of rotating pin 182 and separated only bythe width of an upper end of long armature 161 (FIG. 10), which does notconnect directly with the rotating pin 182.

Referring again to FIG. 12, short armatures are shown with holes 181adapted to receive armature connecting pin 178. Armature connecting pin178 connects the lower ends of short armatures 179, spacing them apartby a secured upper end of the long armature 161 (FIG. 10), whose hole162 receives the armature connecting pin 178 along axis 164. Referringagain to FIG. 12, latch lever 116 comprises a user lever end 175 and aconnecting end 176 which defines bore 177.

Excepting the roof pieces of the protective housing, FIGS. 13 through 16show the folding means assembled and operating to move the steering post(not shown) from an upright to a folded down position.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the invention folding means. FIG. 14 shows arear and broken away view of the folding means of FIG. 13. In FIG. 14,base piece 135 is shown secured to its bottom plate lower latch piece141, forming upper latch piece spaces between side flanges 136 and sideflanges 143, wherein are rotatably fixed ends of side flanges 166 ofupper latch piece 165. When the upper latch piece 165 is connected withthe lower latch piece 141 via the base pin 149, the upper latch piece isrotatable along the path 200 (FIG. 8). Ends of latch pin 157 is shownsecured in front notch 147 and guided thereto by latch pin slots 168,where said latch pin is urged downward by its connection to the base pin149 via springs 154. Long armature 161 connects a center of latch pin157 with a center of armature connecting pin 178, which upper end oflong armature 161 is bracketed by lower ends of short armatures 179.Upper ends of short armatures 179 are secured to a middle portion ofrotating pin 182. Rotating pin 182 is secured within opening in sideflanges 166 and is rotatable by pressing on a top surface of latch lever116. Spacer 122 spaces latch lever 116 from an outside surface of a sideflange 166.

FIG. 14 shows the folding means of FIGS. 13 and 14 after a user hasdepressed latch lever 116 in direction 189. Short armatures 179 rotateabout rotating pin 182 lifting their lower ends and thereby lifting theupper connected end of long armature 161, which in turn lifts theconnected latch pin 157 out of notch 147. Springs 154 strongly urgelatch pin 157 downward but is resisted by the tendency of the flattenedsides of rotating pin 182 to cause said pin to remain in the rotatedposition shown in FIG. 15. FIG. 16 shows the folding means of FIG. 15rotated back to a folded down position, thereby aligning latch pin 157over notch 145. In that position, latch pin 157 can be released from theposition shown in FIG. 16 and into notch 145 by lifting upward on latchlever 116.

FIG. 17 is a top view of running board 110 comprising a top surface 190,whose front portion comprises holes 191 to which the base piece andlower latch piece are secured by bolts or screws. A rear portion ofboard 110 comprises a wheel slot 193 defined by extensions 192.Extensions 192 comprise axle holes for receiving and securing therein anaxle of the rear wheel.

The following is a description of the foot board structure embodiment ofthe present invention. Prior art latches for folding mechanisms haveheretofor been located essentially above the plane of a scooter's footboard. The present invention moves essentially all of the latchstructure off of the top part of the scooter and places it in a placewhere a user typically never need view the unsightly pins, levers andsprings. A lever extends from below the foot board surface to an accessposition above the foot board for lifting by a user. This lifting actioncauses a polygonal pin to rotate, causing a latch lever to lift a latchbar out of notches in the steering column and thereby release thesteering column from either an erect or folded down position so that thesteering column can be moved into the other position.

FIG. 18 shows perspective and exploded view of the elements of the footboard structure scooter 200. An upper latch piece 201 comprises at topplate 202 and side flanges 203 with a lower end cutout 204. End 202 a ofupper latch piece 201 is adapted to be engaged to a tube 107 as shown inFIGS. 13 through 16 to engage a steering column part of the scooter.Referring again to FIG. 18, aligned holes 208 in upper latch piece 201are adapted to receive a the base pin 222 securing upper latch piece 201to U-shaped mechanism support box 209 after the lower ends of sideflanges 203 are inserted into slots 210. The lower ends of side flanges203 also comprised upper aligned notches 205 and lower aligned notches206 which are adapted to receive ends of latch bar 230 when it issecured to slide back and forth in slots 214 of box 209. Slots 214 arealigned opposite one another on right the side walls 212 of box 209 sothat they accept only the ends of latch bar 230. Notches 205 and 206 areseparated by separating section 207.

Box 209 has slots 210 so that upper latch piece 201 can rotate about pin222 from the erect to folded down positions of the scooter. Box 209 alsocomprises opposing slots 214, aligned holes 213 for receiving pin 222along line 240 and aligned holes 215 for receiving polygonal pin 232along line 242. The ends of pins 222 and 232, when installed, extendthrough the side walls 212 of box 209 and also through under side walls218 of foot board 216. In this manner, pins 222 and 232 secure box 209to the underside of foot board 216. In addition, pin 222 secures upperlatch piece 201 rotatingly to box 209 and foot board 216, while pin 232is secured to end part 238 at bore 239 of lever 235 along line 242. Pin222 comprises a cap end 223 adapted to be secured abut an outer surfaceof a under side wall 218 and a threaded end 224 adapted to be connectedto screw 229, which in turn abuts the outer surface of the second underside wall 218. Pin 222 also secures the ends of springs 225 within theU-shaped structure of box 209. Springs 225 extend in that concavityrearward to engage slots 231 of latch bar 230 so that latch bar 230 isurged in a forward position when it is installed with its ends withinslots 214 of box 209.

Pin 232 comprises end slots 233 which receive locking washers 234 forsecuring pin 232 in the invention structure. Lever 235 comprises a userflange 236 for lifting by a user when upward support 237 extends throughtop plate 217 at slot 219. Lever 235 extends down from upward support237 to end part 238, which defines a 239 to engage and to be secured topin 232 on the inner side of the locking washer 234. Latch bar lifter226 comprises a lifter end 227 and a bore end 228, which has a boreadapted to receive pin 232 so that lifter 226 rotates rearward whenlever 235 is lifted upward at user flange 236.

Foot board 216 comprises slots 220 the align precisely with slots 210 ofbox 209 when it is installed on the underside of foot board 216 andbetween under side walls 218. Two screw holes are shown in the top plate217 of foot board 216 and are adapted to align with two holes shown inthe top of box 209. These two sets of aligned holes receive screws 221so that box 209 is further secured to the under side of foot board 216.

FIG. 19 shows this embodiment's assembled parts of FIG. 18 excepting thefoot board. It is clear that lever 235 is engaged to pin 232 so thatlifting up on user flange 236 causes pin 232 to rotate in a clockwisedirection. Latch lifter 226 is not shown, but causes latch bar 230 tomove rearward when a user lifts upward on user flange 236. Pin 232 isshown able to rotate freely in holes 215 of box 209. Side flanges 203are shown extending into slots 210 of box 209 and secured to box 209 bypin 222.

FIG. 20 shows foot board 216 in a top view of top plate 217 having slots220, holes 221 a and slot 219. FIG. 21 shows that foot board 216receives box 209 so that its outer side walls 212 abut inside surfaces218 a of under side walls 218 of foot board 216. In addition, slot 219is aligned so that it lies just outside of and parallel to the outersurface of a under side wall 218.

FIGS. 22, 23 and 24 show box 209 comprising aligned holes 215 (toreceive pin 232), aligned holes 213 (to receive pin 222), top plate 212a, screw holes 212 b, slots 210, and side walls 212.

FIG. 25 shows section 244 of FIG. 21. This section of foot board 216 isused in FIGS. 26 through 29 to illustrate the structure and operation ofthis embodiment from the upright or erect position of the steeringcolumn to its folded down position. Aligned holes 246 in under sidewalls 218 are adapted to receive and support pin 232. Aligned holes 245in under side walls 218 are adapted to receive and support pin 222.

FIGS. 26 through 29 show an broken line location of lever 235, alongitudinal side section of upper latch piece 201, a side cutaway viewof latch bar 230, a longitudinal side section of box 209, side cutawayviews of pins 222 and 232, a side view of one of springs 225 and a sideview of latch bar lifter 226 engaged to pin 232. Spring 225 connects pin222 and latch bar 230 so that it is urged toward pin 222. Latch bar 230has its ends slidingly engaged in slots 214. The lifter end of latch barlifter 226 engages a center part of latch bar 230. Side flanges 203 ofupper latch piece 201 extend through aligned slots 210 and 220. Upperlatch piece 201 is adapted to rotate about pin 222 from an erect orupright position to a folded down position.

FIG. 26 shows this embodiment is an upright or erect position wherelatch bar 230 is engaged in lower notches 206, thereby preventing thesteering column (not shown) from collapsing toward the foot board 216.

FIG. 27 shows lever 235 having been lifted up in direction 247 at theuser flange by a user, causing pin 232 to rotate and thereby causinglatch bar lifter 226 to force latch bar 230 rearward and out ofengagement with lower notches 206.

FIG. 28 shows that upper latch piece 201 has been rotated rearward indirection 248 about pin 222 after the operation of FIG. 27 to bring thescooter to a folded down position.

FIG. 29 shows that after the step taken in FIG. 28, a user releaseslever 235 so that the user flange moves down in direction 249, therebyallowing latch bar lifter 226 to settle in to notches 205, urged thereinby springs 225.

The steps in FIGS. 26 through 29 are taken in reverse to bring thescooter to an upright or erect position.

1. A scooter capable of folding from an upright position to a foldeddown position with a foot board latch structure comprising: (a) asteering post having a top end with handlebars extending side to sidetherefrom and a bottom end fixed to a front wheel support, where asupport tube supports a lower part of the steering post; (b) a frontwheel rotatably attached to the front wheel support; (c) a foot boardhaving a length adapted to support the weight of a user standing on atop surface of the running board, where a rear part of the running boardsupports an axle of a rear wheel, whereby the front and rear wheels arealigned and cooperate so that the scooter rolls forward when the runningboard is supportively connected with the support tube; (d) an upperlatch piece connected to the support tube and extending down andrearward toward a front end of the foot board, the upper latch pieceending in two side flanges defining comprising a pair of opposing upperfolding pin holes and upper edges of the side flanges bearing twoopposing upper notches and two opposing lower notches; (e) the footboard further comprising: (i) a top plate with two under side wallsspaced apart longitudinally along on an underside of the top plate todefine a box width, the under side walls extending rearward from a frontend of the foot board and located on an under side of the top plate;(ii) two board top slots defined in the top plate providing access to abox space between inner surfaces of the under side walls; (iii) a pairof aligned board folding pin holes defined opposite each other in theunder side walls and a pair of aligned board rotating pin holes definedopposite each other in the under side walls; and (iv) a lever slotdefined in the top plate providing access to an outer surface of one ofthe under side walls; (f) a mechanism box with a rectangular top parthaving a width equal to the box width and box side walls extending downfrom long edges of the top part to form a U-shaped structure, where thebox side walls define a pair of aligned latch bar slots, a pair ofaligned box folding pin holes, and a pair of box aligned rotating pinholes and the top part defines two box top slots; (g) the mechanism boxlocated within the box width so that the box top slots are aligned withthe board top slots; (h) lower ends of the side flanges pass through thebox top slots and the board top slots; (i) the upper folding pin holes,the board folding pin holes and the box folding pin holes are aligned byway of a folding pin; (j) the board rotating pin holes are aligned withthe box rotating pin holes by way of a rotating pin, (k) a latch bar isslidingly supported in the latch bar slots and urged toward the foldingpin so that it engages the upper notches or the lower notches when theyalign forward from the latch bar; (l) a latch bar lifter is fixed to amid section of the rotating pin and engages a forward mid section of thelatch bar and a lever is fixed to an end of the rotating pin so that thelever extends up through the lever slot and is accessible to a user, (m)the lever is adapted to be lifted by a user so that the rotating pinrotates, causing the latch bar lifter to lift the latch bar rearwardfrom its forward urging means.
 2. The scooter of claim 1 wherein whenthe latch bar is urged into the lower notches the steering column is inan upright position.
 3. The scooter of claim 1 wherein when the latchbar is urged into the upper notches the steering column is in an uprightposition.
 4. The scooter of claim 1 wherein the forward urging meanscomprise springs connecting the latch bar to a mid section of thefolding pin.
 5. The scooter of claim 1 wherein under side walls extendfrom a front most end of the foot board to a rear most end of the footboard.
 6. The scooter of claim 5 wherein an axle of the rear wheel issupported between the under side walls of the rear most end of the footboard.
 7. The scooter of claim 1 wherein projecting portions of thehandlebars can be removed and releasably attached to the steering postin the folded down position.